A recent study published in Nature showed that individuals using medications like Ozempic and Wegovy had a lower risk of some health issues—including seizures, blood clotting disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease—but a higher risk of gastrointestinal disorders, pancreatitis and arthritis.
Though these drugs have exploded in popularity because of their ability to treat diabetes and help people lose weight, their risks have not been thoroughly analyzed until recently. Many patients who took these medications and then suffered from serious health issues like stomach paralysis and intestinal blockages have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers, claiming that the drug makers intentionally minimized the risks and failed to provide adequate warnings about the dangers.
Researchers Examine Effects of Ozempic Medications in Large Group of Veterans
Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy are all forms of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). These medications slow digestion, activating nerves that slow muscle contractions that normally push food along. By slowing the process of digesting, these drugs sustain feelings of fullness and reduce blood sugar levels , helping users of the drugs eat less and lose weight.
For the study, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System examined data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs databases. They compared a cohort of people with diabetes who used GLP-1RAs and compared them to those who used other types of medications to control blood sugar levels. The dataset examined more than 2 million individuals treated for diabetes between October 1, 2017, and December 31, 2023.
Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, the study’s senior author, noted in a statement: “Given the drugs’ newness and skyrocketing popularity, it is important to systematically examine their effects on all body systems—leaving no stone unturned—to understand what they do and what they don’t do.”
Study Shows Weight-Loss Medications Increase Risk of Pancreatitis
Compared to other diabetes medications, the use of GLP-1RAs was associated with a reduced risk of seizures, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, cardiometabolic disorders, infections, clotting disorders, addictions, and several respiratory conditions.
The researchers noted that these improvements in risk were modest and were linked primarily with weight loss, though the drugs also act on receptors expressed in brain areas involved in impulse control, reward, and addiction.
However, there was an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders—including gastroparesis, diverticulitis, and gastritis—as well as other health problems, including arthritic disorders, hypotension (low blood pressure), kidney stones, kidney disease, and pancreatitis—an inflammation of the pancreas that can lead to life-threatening complications.
The researchers recommended that doctors closely monitor their patients and use the results to inform clinical care. “GLP-1RA drugs can have broad health benefits,” Al-Aly said. “However, they are not without risks. Our findings underscore the possibility for wider applications of these medications, but also highlight important risks that should be carefully monitored in people taking these drugs.”
Though the study doesn’t prove if the medications affect these risks a great deal—it only shows an association—the findings are still concerning, particularly for patients who may be taking the medications while remaining unaware of the risks.
Patients Caught Unaware of Serious Ozempic Side Effects File Lawsuits
The findings from this study may be used as evidence in the over 1,000 lawsuits currently pending against the makers of Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and other similar diabetes and weight loss drugs. These lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs who suffered serious injuries after taking the drugs. They all raise similar allegations against the manufacturers, arguing that they put profits above any concern for consumer safety.
Because of the commonality among these cases, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation voted in February 2024 to consolidate them into the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with District Judge Karen Marston overseeing the proceedings.
Exclusively focused on representing plaintiffs, especially in mass tort litigation, Eric Chaffin prides himself on providing unsurpassed professional legal services in pursuit of the specific goals of his clients and their families. Both his work and his cases have been featured in the national press, including on ABC’s Good Morning America.
